FAMU narrows choice on baseball coach

The Tallahassee Democrat has confirmed that Florida A&M University has hired former University of Illinois head men's track and field coach Wayne Angel, as the Rattlers next men's track coach. Angel's bio can be read at: Player Bio: Wayne Angel - FIGHTINGILLINI.COM // THE OFFICIAL HOME ...

Florida A&M could make its next athletic department personnel hire out of the state of Mississippi.

On Tuesday, when FAMU signed former University of Mississippi associate athletic director Derek Horne to run its athletic department, President James Ammons said he would interview his final choice for the vacant head baseball coach on Wednesday. Ammons didn't name the finalist, and while it wasn't immediately confirmed that Ammons conducted the interview, sources have said Jackson State's baseball coach Omar Johnson visited the campus Wednesday.

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From the Beep...

Dang! FAMU's President Ammons is knocking the ball out to I-10 with the hiring of new athletic director Derek Horne, former Illinois world-class track and field coach Wayne Angel, and now an attempt to hire the highly successful Jackson State University baseball coach, Omar Johnson.

The 411 on Johnson.... He's a Winner... a Miami (Florida) native who is the first JSU baseball coach to reach the 100-win plateau(106-62) within his first three seasons. He has coached the German national team in the 2009 Baseball World Cup and 2010 European Championship (when they won the Bronze Medal for the first time in 35 years). Johnson also coached current major leaguer Josh Willingham of the Florida Marlins. He is a University of North Alabama graduate.

These personnel moves are a major step in Dr. Ammons changing the status quo culture of the FAMU athletic department. Now, if the Rattlers men's basketball problem can be addressed, please.... Yes, I like these hires! Go Rattlers! (beepbeep)

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Who'll catch on as NSU's top WR? Jeremy Wicker

NORFOLK, VA --Jeremy Wicker (#17) lacks the traditional wide receiver's desire to draw attention to himself, even when he might have every right to stand up, wave his arms and scream. With Norfolk State's top two wide receivers from 2009 gone, one of the Spartans' crucial issues is determining who will catch passes thrown by their yet-to-be-determined quarterback.

The answer, Wicker says, should be pretty clear: It's the guy who has been a Spartan for five seasons now. "Even some of the guys on the team, they don't direct it at you, but you hear them. They're like, 'Man, now we don't have any receivers.' It's like 'Come on. I've done this before. I've had 100-yard games. I've played Kentucky. I've played Rutgers. I've done it.' " With reasonable success, too.

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ASU volleyball sets schedule, snags two SIAC preseason nods

ALBANY, GA — Nine-time defending SIAC champions. Has a nice ring to it, eh? Of course it does, only Albany State coach Robert Skinner thinks he knows another phrase that sounds even better: 10-time defending SIAC champs. No. 10 is what’s at stake as the Lady Rams get set to kick off their 2010 season, the schedule for which was released late last week.

But before any of the conference’s teams take the court, there was some housekeeping to handle Wednesday when the SIAC announced its 2010 Preseason All-SIAC Teams as ASU landed two players on that list: Seniors Latrice Lewis and Pricilla Sena. Surprised a team that’s nine-time defending champ only had two players named preseason all-conference — and on the Second Team, at that? Don’t be. Skinner wasn’t.

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South Carolina State Bulldogs not timid about goals

Despite significant losses, Buddy Pough’s program poised to continue its ascension in the FCS.

Despite heavy graduation losses, the South Carolina State football team has set its sights high again. The Bulldogs are focused on winning their third consecutive MEAC championship and earning their third FCS playoff berth in a row. This time, however, S.C. State will not be satisfied with merely making the playoffs.

“We want to win that third MEAC championship, but that’s not the real goal,” senior quarterback Malcolm Long said. “We want to win a national championship. That’s what we preach to each other every day.” Winning a postseason game or two would be the next step for a program that has raised expectations under coach Buddy Pough.

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Southern's offensive line boasts patience, depth‎

Chris Browne knows a thing or two about patience. The man is from Cleveland. “When you’re dealing with the Browns, the Cleveland Indians and the Cavaliers, it’s all about patience,” said Browne, Southern’s starting left tackle. “You have to be a Browns fan on the east side of Cleveland. We’re die-hard. Even though the Browns struggle, we always believe that they can go to the Super Bowl.”

If he’s lucky at all, Browne’s faith will soon be rewarded —maybe not when it comes to his home teams back in Cleveland, but when it comes to the Jaguars. He’s invested a little more time and sweat into them, anyway.

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Rison's NCCU Eagles ready to soar‎

Mose Rison has made no secret of the fact that he believes 2010 is the year of the Eagle. Rison, entering his fourth year as N.C. Central's head football coach, has been bubbling over with enthusiasm since spring football.

Redshirt junior quarterback Michael Johnson says Rison's confidence is genuine. For the first time since the university left the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association - after back-to-back conference championships - NCCU is starting to see the light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel. "The atmosphere is great, and it's going good right now just for the simple fact that we have a lot of guys returning this year," said Johnson, a Tulsa transfer and Hillside High graduate.



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Delaware State Hornets football: Jones stepped in, stepped up

DOVER, DE -- The running back position for Delaware State University proved to be an express route to the hospital last year. While the three tailbacks above him on the depth chart suffered injuries, somehow Jaashawn Jones remained healthy and started the Hornets' final four games. In eight games, Jones powered his way to a team-high 632 yards on 151 carries (4.2 yards per carry) to rank fifth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with a rushing average of 79 yards per game.

This season, Jones, a redshirt junior from Asbury Park, N.J., is atop the DSU depth chart at running back. "You just work hard. You've got to push," said Jones, a 6-foot-1, 220 pounder. "If you don't push then nothing's going to come to you, basically. You've got to go and get everything you can in life. "I think I've got a nice combination of vision, power and speed -- just a little bit of everything."

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A&M's experienced secondary ready for big year

HUNTSVILLE, AL. - Experienced. Talented. Versatile. It sounds like an advertisement for a big name company. Instead, the words describe Alabama A&M's secondary. The Bulldogs, under long-time defensive coordinator and secondary coach Brawnski Towns, believe they can be one of the best units in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They certainly have the experience to be.

Starting cornerbacks Korey Morrison and Chris Faush are fifth-year seniors. So are strong safety Ray Segura and will linebacker Marcus Thomas. Throw in junior free safety Rico Porch, who had 44 tackles and three interceptions last season, junior cornerback Clarence Morris and sophomore will linebacker Vernon Marshall, who had 49 tackles last season as a true freshman, and A&M has all of the ingredients to be solid in the secondary.

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ASU sanction-free and hoping for improvement

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow doesn't have to manufacture ways to motivate his players this season. The Hornets are eligible to compete for a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship after a one-year NCAA postseason ban for violations under a previous regime. Now, they at least have a chance to get in the SWAC mix.

"As a head coach, I had to try and motivate these guys that, 'Regardless of if we can't go to the SWAC championship, we can crown ourselves. Let's just win the games,'" Barlow said. "But in the back of their heads, I imagine it was, 'We can't win it.' "That will change the motivation for our guys." But will it change the results?

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Jackson State Tigers try out Air Raid attack

The Air Raid offense has arrived at Jackson State. The team had an impromptu scrimmage Monday that featured several different formations and personnel, characteristics of the new pass-happy Air Raid scheme offensive coordinator Earnest Wilson is installing. The team aligned in 10 different formations during the 28-play scrimmage. Plays included sets out of the shotgun, the regular I-formation and two three-back formations.

Some plays had as many as four receivers, some had as few as one. There were two tight ends used, one tight end and none. There were up to three running backs or none at all. QB Dedric McDonald and transfer Casey Therriault continued their fight for the starting role. McDonald, who is still first in the rotation, passed for 59 yards, hitting 4 of 8 attempts (two drops). Therriault passed for 33 yards and completed 6 of 7 attempts. Also, six receivers caught a total of 10 passes from the top two QBs. "The offense is doing a real fine job," coach Rick Comegy said.

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Rison has great expectations for NCCU Eagles

Kearse still believes in A&M's defense

Defensive tackle Frank Kearse doesn't appear to be too concerned that Alabama A&M's first defense has struggled mightily against the first offense in two preseason scrimmages. Last Wednesday, quarterback Deaunte Mason got the best of Kearse and company. On Saturday, running backs Tony Green and Kaderius Lacey carved up the Bulldogs' defense.

"They caught us in some bad situations and made some big plays," Kearse said. Despite that, Kearse says the Bulldogs have more than enough time to get ready for the season opener against Tennessee State on Sept. 4. "I want us to play with more intensity and know our assignments," he said. "Getting in the playbook will help us out a lot."

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FVSU Enters Year Two Under Pittman

The FVSU Wildcats had their uniforms on Saturday afternoon, but won't do so in a true game situation until August 28th. Instead, it was picture day at Fort Valley St., another sign that the football season is fast approaching. For the blue and gold that means year two under head coach Donald Pittman, who guided the Wildcats to a 7-4 mark in 2009.



In year two Pittman has a squad that features seven preseason all-conference picks, and plans to go beyond their projected 3rd place finish in the SIAC. Both players and coach say their familiarity with one another in season two will help them do just that. "We know each other, we know the different temperaments, we know what kids we can really approach in a certain way," Pittman said. "We became more of a team, we're a family now."

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Hampton University head coach Donovan Rose is ready for CMU

In the 20 years Hampton head coach Donovan Rose has been associated with Hampton University he has never had the opportunity to play a D-1 team. Rose will get his chance when he steps into Mt. Pleasant, Michigan on Sept. 2nd to take on the reigning Mid American Conference champions, the Central Michigan Chippewas.

In only his second season as the head coach, Rose is looking to improve upon a 5-6 campaign last year by catching newly minted CMU head coach Dan Enos off guard.

Rose admits the task of beating the Chips' won't be easy; he fully expects them to unleash their full arsenal of weapons...

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S.C. State Football Practice Report

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- South Carolina State, following its first day away from the gridiron Sunday, resumed preseason workouts Monday with a morning and evening practice. In the 8:30 a.m. drill in full pads, the Bulldogs devoted much of the session to reviewing and correcting mistakes made in Saturday’s scrimmage. The evening session was a light one in shorts and helmets only.

”It was back to work for us today,” said Bulldog head coach Buddy Pough following Monday’s morning drill. “We worked much of the period trying to correct mistakes made in the scrimmage on Saturday. We are pass the installation stage and are attempting to develop...

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LaSalle Volleyball Adds Cassandra Joyner To Coaching Staff

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Former Delaware State University volleyball standout Cassandra Joyner joins the La Salle volleyball staff as an assistant coach, announced head coach Dave Stever. Joyner, a 2010 graduate of Delaware State with a major in Psychology, became the school's first player to reach 1,000 kills and ended her career with 1,272 winners to go along with 888 career digs and 310 career blocks.

"I appreciate this opportunity to be part of the LaSalle University Explorers volleyball staff, working hand-in-hand with Coach Stever and the student-athletes," Joyner said. "I am looking forward to working with the team and helping the players see their potential and execute to their highest level."

A four-year letter winner and team captain, Joyner led the Hornets in kills, blocks and digs in both 2008 and 2009. A two-time All-MEAC first team selection, Joyner finished third in the MEAC in points (4.13 pg), fourth in kills (3.32 pg) and sixth in hitting percentage (.283) during her final season with the Hornets. In 2009, she helped her team set several school records, as well as a 20-13 overall record, including an 8-2 mark in the MEAC.

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FAMU's Taylor unsatisfied after first practice

There were bright spots by the Florida A&M defense, but coach Joe Taylor didn't see enough of them to come away from the Rattlers' first light-contact practice satisfied on a steamy afternoon when a few players were forced to the sidelines with cramps. "I was expecting more," Taylor said. "I saw some good things in 7-on-7 flying around. I thought the defense did some good things. We've got a long way to go but they shouldn't let things (like the heat) affect them."

Coaches spent most of the afternoon concentrating on techniques and play executions. Taylor, who usually watched from a distance, was close up on each segment for most of the two hours on the field. "In a game, the coach is not on the field so I've adopted the idea of being in the background," he said. "I would go up and say something to a guy, but I really don't like to be all over the field yelling because I like everything to be as game-like as possible. But there are times that I don't have a choice."

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SU Jaguar coach Mitchell promises run game

When it comes to running backs, Southern coach Stump Mitchell is so very particular. He is, in fact, awfully demanding of them. It didn’t take long for Gary Hollimon to figure that out. “One day, when we (were) in spring practice, we were working on routes. I was running a route, and I kept messing it up,” Hollimon recalled.

The story is long, but here’s the short version: Hollimon, standing in the backfield, was supposed to run diagonally toward the sideline, then cut sharply toward the middle of the field. Only his cut wasn’t sharp. In fact, it wasn’t even a cut. “I rounded my route instead of sticking it,” Hollimon said. What, then, did Mitchell tell him? “You can’t print what he said,” Hollimon said, laughing. “The good version was that you have to plant and come out of your stick a little better.” So began a new era at Southern.

Fresh from an 11-year stint as an NFL running backs coach, Mitchell arrived at Southern seven months ago and joked that one of his new assistants, running backs coach Elvis Joseph, might have the toughest job of anyone on staff, because Mitchell will be watching closely.

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Derek Horne formally introduced as FAMU AD

The cell phone ringtone interrupted the speaker's voice Tuesday afternoon just as the words "Mr. Derek Horne" were spoken. The theme song to the old "Superman" television series blared loud enough for everyone in the banquet room at the Al Lawson Center to hear. "That was planned," someone yelled from across the room. Maybe," came the response. Though Florida A&M President Dr. James Ammons may not have hired Superman to run the university's athletics department, he certainly found a man many people believe has the strength, wisdom and instincts to help reshape the future of the Rattlers' sports programs.

Derek Horne, formally introduced Tuesday as the new director of athletics, wasted little time endearing himself to a crowd of nearly 100 FAMU employees, trustees, alumni, friends and media representatives. "I'm humbled and honored to stand before you today as the next director of athletics at Florida A&M University," Horne said. "Of all the places in the world this day, I can't think of another place I'd rather be."

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2010 MEAC Press Conference

QB Riley runs Benedict on right path

Coach Stan Conner arrived at Benedict in 2007 with the stated goal of leading the mired-in-mediocrity Tigers to a SIAC championship. Conner endured a 7-15 record his first two seasons, but he never stopped scouring the nation’s junior-college ranks for players whose skills fit into his system.

Last year, Benedict finished with an 8-3 record — winning eight of its final nine games to land in a tie for third place with Morehouse behind Albany State and champion Tuskeegee. Now, the Tigers figure to reach title-contender status for the first time since the school revived the sport, initially as a club team, in 1995. “We’re getting to the point where we have the talent in place to make a run,” Conner said. “The schedule is front-loaded again (season-opening games against Morehouse and Tuskegee), but if we get through that OK we should have a shot.”

The program’s rise can be attributed to the arrival of Pat Riley — Conner’s first quarterback recruiting coop.

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B-CU Adds Two More D-I Receivers

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats coach Brian Jenkins

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- One would think a football team transitioning from a triple-option offense to a more conventional pro-style attack would experience some unique problems. Finding enough quality receivers for example. But with two Rutgers transfers recently joining the mix, receiver has suddenly become the deepest position at Bethune-Cookman.

"Our No. 1 goal of our coaching staff was to try to make each position more of a competition to get some depth where the guys had to compete and be on their 'A' game every day," B-CU first-year coach Brian Jenkins said. "It just so happened the receiver spot filled up a little bit more or faster with talent than we thought, but it's a good thing to have, and we'll see how they fit into our offensive system."

After the first week of preseason practice, Eddie Poole and Pat Brown are both fitting in well, said Jenkins, who coached them last year when he was the receivers coach at Rutgers. Poole, a 6-foot-3, redshirt sophomore from Belle Glade Glades Central, and Brown, a redshirt senior from Newark, N.J., were not getting much playing time with the Scarlet Knights. They both enjoyed playing for Jenkins last year and decided to follow him to the Sunshine State.

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TSU enjoys good depth in backfield

Preston Brown realizes he is being chased by more than defenders at Tennessee State's practices. New Coach Rod Reed said the Tigers came into preseason camp with four running backs other than Brown capable of starting and now a freshman is threatening to get into that mix.

"I never imagined we would have this kind of depth," said Brown, a senior and former Antioch star who was the team's running back last season with 474 yards on 128 carries and four touchdowns. "They stay on me and are making sure I work hard. If I stop one of them can do the same thing I do."

TSU ran the ball 64.5 percent of the time last year, and Reed said the offense would lean even more heavily on the run this season. Behind Brown is senior Terrence Wright, junior Dante' Thomas and sophomores Ryan Berry and Trabis Ward. Freshman Jeremy Coffey from Brentwood has turned heads in camp and Reed said he also could figure into the rotation.

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Karl Malone's Hall moment included Grambling legend Willis Reed

Willis Reed hasn't played in the NBA in more than 30 years, but the New York Knicks great dished out an unlikely assist Friday night. He introduced Louisiana Tech product Karl Malone for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Reed played college football just a few miles down the road, at Grambling.

Reed said he received a surprising phone call while the former Utah Jazz standout was fishing in Alaska. "Being a homeboy," said Reed, 68, who, like Malone, is also a Louisiana native, "he likes to hunt and fish like me. That's one of the things I admired about Karl is his great work ethic. "But I thought he would've asked (former Jazz coach Jerry) Sloan or (teammate John) Stockton."



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JSU O-line taking shape under Black

There were times during Jackson State's fall camp last year when center Antonio Colston glanced to his left, then to his right and had to do a double take in both directions. t was always someone different. "We were always rotating," Colston said. "One day it might be this guy starting. The next day it might be another."That didn't help cohesiveness. It didn't help communication. It didn't help anything. Things have changed, though.

During the first week of this year's fall camp, a selected five offensive linemen have received most of the reps. New line coach Gregory Black said there are no starters named thus far. Asked about those five, he said that group could always change. But, for now, the crew includes left tackle Terrael Williams, left guard Darius Mitchell, Colston at center, right guard Chris Holmes and right tackle Roderick Gladney. Players say this group is beginning to act like one cohesive unit - something that's been missing on this squad for a couple of years.



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